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KEMBLE 
Personation 


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:aiy^'' 


ip!fe-<r 


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<m,^»- 


THE     MINOR     DRAMA. 

No.  CXX 


PERSONATION, 


OR, 


Fairly  Taken  In. 

A    COMIC    INTERLUDE, 
IN  ONE  ACT, 


BT    • 

MRS.  CHARLES  KEMBLE. 

AS  PERFORMED  IN  THE  LONDON  AND  AMERICAN  THEATRES' 

TO  WHICH  AEB  ADDED 

4  Desdriptit>D  of  the  Costume,  Cast  of  the  Characters,  Entrances  and  Exits,  Bela 
tire  PoisitioaB,  and  the  trhole  of  the  Stage  Business. 


NEW  YQKK: 
SAMUEL    FRENCH, 

122  Nassau-Street,  (vp  stairs.) 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS.-(PERS0NAT10N.; 


LORD  HENRY 
LADY  JULIA. 


London.        New-York-  Philadelphia* 

COVB-NT  GARDE  V.       BROADWAY.  CH  KSTNUT  ST. 

Original.      Miss  Foote's  Ben.        1856.  J836. 

Mr.  C.  Kemble.     Mr.  Abbott.    Mr.  Connor.  Mr.  Ternan. 

Mrs.C.Kemble.       Miss  Foote.    Mrs.Connor.  Miss  Fanny  Ternan, 


COSTUMES. 

LORD  HENRY.— 2^«<  Dress:— A.8  La  Roche,  drab  coat,  waistcoat 
and  breeches — boots — hat  and  band.  Second  Dress  :  —  Fashionable 
bine  suit — white  waistcoat — silk  stockings — shoes. 

LADY  JTJ  LI  A..— First  Dress  .-—White  muslin— white  silk  stockings 
— .echoes. — Second  Dress  : — As  the  French  gouvernante  :  Black  silk  cloak 
— higii  French  cap — white  hair — ruffles — long  gloves — spectacles. — 
77nrd  Dress : — Elegant  robe  dress  of  pink  satin — ostrich  feathers,  <fec. 
Fourth  Dress: — As  the  French  gouvernante. 

STAGE  DIRECTIONS. 

L.  means  First  Entrance,  Left.  R.  First  Entrance,  Right.  S.  R  L.  Second 
Entrance,  Left.  S.  E.  R.  Second  Entrance,  Right.  U.  E.  L.  Upper  Entrance. 
I,eft.  U.  E.'  R.  Upper  Entrance.  Right.  C.  Centre.  L.  C.  Left  of  Centre. 
II."  C.  Right  of  Centre.  T.  E.  L.  Third  Entrance,  Left.  T.  E.  R.  Third 
Entrance.  Riqht.  C.  D.  Centre  Door.  D.  R.  Door  Right.  D.  L.  Door 
Uft.     U.  D.  L.  Upper  Door,  Left.     U.  D.  R.  Upper  Door,  Right. 


•,*The  reader  is  supposed  to  be  on  the  Stage,  facing  the  Audience. 


,  I.IHKAHY 

K  tiJNJVKK.^i  rv  oi'  <;amf()RIVia 

^^39  SAjMA  liAKBAUA 

PERSONATION, 

OR, 

Fairly  Taken  In. 

ACT  I. 

SCENE  I. — An  Apartment  opening  into  a   garden   with  folding- 
doors,  c.  F. — A  Table  and  tioo  Chairs. 

Enter  Lady  Julia  with  a  candle  and  a  letter. 

Lady  J.  My  plot  is  laid,  my  servants  are  all  disposed  of,  and 
I  think  I  cannot  fail  of  success  ;  but  let  me  once  more  peruse 
this  curious  epistle,  for  on  that  depends  all  my  future  operations. 
(^Reads)  '  My  dear  Lady  Julia — you  will,  ere  this  can  reach  you,  he 
in  anxious  expectation  of  receiving  your  cousin,  Lord  Henry,  to  ichom 
you  have  promised  your  hand  immediately  upon  his  arrival  ;  he  is 
on  the  point  of  setting  out,  and  I  have  to  communicate  to  you  the 
wildest  project  that  ever  entered  a  young  man''s  brains.'  A  wild 
project  indeed  !  but  I'll  cure  him  of  his  fancies  when  once  we 
are  married.  (^Reads.)  Lord  Henry  considers  himself  a  philoso- 
pher ;  to  dotiht  is  to  be  wise  according  to  his  creed  ;  and  eager  to  dis- 
cover whether  three  years  absence  have  made  any  alteration  in  your 
manners  and  sentiments,  he  means  to  present  himself  to  you  under  the 
character  and  disguise  of  his  travelling  servant,  La  Roche.  I  thought 
it  a  pity  that  you  should  be  taken  by  surprise,  and  have  therefore  said 
thus  much  to  put  yoti  tipon  your  guard — rjour  own  discretion.'' — Well, 
this  is  all  to  the  purpose  ;  so  then,  I  am  to  be  taken  by  sur- 
prise 1  to  be  detected,  found  out — but  I  am  much  mistaken,  if 
the  biter  will  not  be  bit ;  the  moment  draws  near  when  I  expect 
him  ;  my  first  plan  is  to  overwhelm  him  with  my  coolness,  my 
indifference 

Lord  H.  {without  i,.)  C'est  bon  !  c'est  bon  I 

Lady  J.  {looking  out,  l.)  Ah,  here  he  is,  and  sure  enough  dis- 
guised as  his  servant.  La  Roche. 


•4  PERSONATION. 

Enter  Lord  Henry,  l.,  running. 

Lord  H.  Euf  in  ma  foi.  (^Stopping  short.)  Milles  pardons,  mi 
ladi.  [Bowing  with  great  respect. 

Lady  J.  Whom  do  you  seek,  friend  ? 

Lord  H.  Excuse  me,  madame,  I  am  mi  lor  Henry's  most  bum- 
ble servant.     I  arrive  only  dis  moment. 
Lady  J.  With  Lord  Henry  ? 

Lo7'd  H.  Helas  non,  madame ;  he  vras  fly  on  de  ving  of  Cupid 
to  trow  him  at  your  knee,  but  his  diable  de  brisky  turn  over. 
Lady  J.  (  With  indifference.)   Overturned  ? 

Lord  H.  Overturn — fracasse  !  all  broke  en  leetel  bit,  comme 
ca.  [Showing  tlie  top  of  his  thumh. 

Lady  J.  Broken  to  pieces  ! 

Lord  H.  En  thousand  piece  !  so  madame  malgrc,  spite  of  his 
urrey  to  kiss  de  vite  hand  of  mi  ladi,  he  could  no  come  furder 
den  de  village  vere  de  accident  happen. 

Lady  J.  {Aside.)  His  lordship  tells  a  lie  with  a  tolerable  grace 
for  a  philosopher. 

Lord  H.  (Aside.)  She  does  not  seem  much  moved  at  the  acci- 
dent, for  a  bride. 

Lady  J.  And  so.  Lord  Henry — bless  me,  how  cool  the  even- 
ings are  growing — Lord  Henry  will  be  detained  some  days  lon- 
ger at  the  village? 

Lord  H.  Vraiment,  mi  ladi,  I  am  ignorant.  (Aside.)  How 
she  freezes  me ! 

Lady  J.  He  must  have  received  a  great  shock  ? 

Lord  H.  (Emphatically.)  Very  great  shock  indeed,  mi  ladi. 

Lady  J.  I  hope  he  feels  no  other  inconvenience  from  his  pres- 
ent situation  1 

Lord  H.  Non,  madame,  he  will  soon  be  cured  of  his  vound. 

Lady  J.  Oh,  he  is  wounded,  is  he  ?  oh  then,  one  had  better 
send — 

Lord  H.  Do  not  derange  you,  mi  ladi,  he  vill  get  de  better  ot 
his  vound,  be  you  sure. 

Lady  J.  Are  you  certain  that  his  head  is  sound  ? 

Lord  H.  Madame  ! 

Lady  J.  Madame  !  I  say,  are  you  certain  that  hi«  head  is 
Bound  ? 


PERSONATION.  $■ 

Lord  H.  Pres  certain,  'tis  very  sound.  I  will  answer  for 
that. 

Ladi/  J.  Will  you?  that's  more  than  I  will;  well,  friend,  re- 
turn to  your  master,  and  tell  him — 

Lord  H.  I  should  be  encbante  to  obey  de  commands  of  mi  la- 
di, but  mon  maitre  order  me  to  vait  hira  here. 

Lady  J.  To  wait  for  hira  here  !  that's  very  awkward,  for  I  am 
going  to  a  fete  at  a  neighboring  villa,  and  I  have  promised  to 
♦ake  all  my  servants  with  me — how  unfortunate !  however,  I 
uare  say  we  shall  be  able  to  find  some  hole  or  corner  to  poke 
you  and  your  master  into.  I'll  send  my  French  housekeeper 
to  you.  I  declare  I  am  so  shocked  at  this  accident,  that  I  shall 
not  have  spirits  to  dance  or  to  sing,  or  to  do  anything ;  you'll 
tell  your  master  how  affected  I  am.  [Sings  and  exit  l. 

Lord  H.  (Botoinff  very  low  till  she  is  out  of  sight  and  hearing.) 
Lady  Julia,  Lady  Julia !  false,  faithless  woman  !  well,  well, 
well.  I  had  judged  solidly  of  this  frothy  moiety  of  the  human 
race — to  doubt  is  to  be  wise — conviction  follows  :  but  for  this 
disguise,  I  should  have  made  a  fine  fool  of  myself  here,  since  I 
have  made  so  good  a  beginning ;  faithful  to  my  project,  let  mo 
see  it  to  an  end.  I'll  watch  my  lady  fair  narrowly,  interrogate 
this  French  housekeeper  whom  she  is  sending  to  me,  probe  her 
to  the  quick,  and  by  hook  or  by  crook.  La  Roche  may  find  out 
what  Lord  Henry  might  have  discovered  too  late. 

Re-enter  Lady  Julia,  r.,  disguised  as  a  French  Gouvernante. 

Lady  J.  Ah,  sir !  you  are  here — mi  ladi  has  just  given  order 
and  direction  for  your  account,  and  I  come  to  execute  dem  wid 
all  proper  degree  of  promptitude  and  alacrite  !  and  to  express  to 
you,  sir,  how  very  sincerely  I  feel  de  greatest  pleasure  and  satis 
faction  in  performing  de  office  and  functions  of  my  post,  my  avo- 
tions. 

Loj-d  H.  (^Aside.)  There's  a  whirlwind!  {To  her.)  Oh!  my 
heart  is  penetre  with  3'our  goodness,  madame. 

Lady  J.  Madame  !  ah,  give  me  leave  to  tell  you,  sir,  that  you 
bestow  upon  me  un  appelation  which  min  pride,  min  modestie — 

Lord  H.  Oh,  mademoiselle  !  pardonnez  nie,  miss. 

Lady  J.  Yes,  sir — miss,  miss,  I  am  miss  ;  but  it  has  only  de- 
pend upon  ininself  to  become  iutillcd  to  madame  ;  but  de  modes- 


6  PERSONATION. 

tie,  which  belongs  to  min  sex,  to  min  countrie,  particularly — in 
short,  sir,  I  am  single  and  very  much  at  your  service  ;  but  I 
stand  here  chatter  like  a  little  child  and  I  forget  dat  monsieur  a 
besoin  de  refraishment  after  dis  journey. 

Lord  H.  Oh,  mam'selle  it  is  sufficient  refraishment  to  see  your 
beauty  face. 

Lady  J.  Ah,  very,  pretty  indeed  !  will  you  sit  down  ?  {Chmrs 
hrought  doton  hy  Lord  Henry,  much  ceremony  in  sitting.)  Mon- 
sieur La  Roche,  between  ourself,  do  you  think  dis  marriage  be- 
tween mi  lor  and  mi  ladi  will  take  place,  eh  1 

Lord  H.  Certainment. 

Lady  J.  I  taught  so  once,  mais — , 

Lord  H.  (  With  great  earnestness.)  Mais  what  1 

Lady  J.  One  see  so  many  tings,  dat  one  is  sorry  to  see — tant 
de  dissimulation — 

Lord  Jf.  En  verite 

Lady  J.  Monsieur  La  Roche,  je  ne  me  mele  jamais  des  affaires 
autres — I  never  trouble  me  vid  the  business  dat  does  not  con- 
cern minself,  but  )'ou  have  inspired  me  wid  a  friendship — 

Lord  H.  Ah ! 

Lady  J.  Wid  a  consideration — 

Lord  H.  Ah ! 

Lady  J.  Wid — you  understand — and  I  must  tell  you,  dat  mi 
ladi  expect  dis  very  night — 

Lord  H.  {Very  eagerly.)  A  lovair  f 

Lady  J.  Alles  done  !  alles  done  !  you  know  very  welJ  what  a 
young  lady  expect. 

Lord  H.  {Aside.)  The  devil ! 

JL,ady  J.  lie  comes  here  disguise — 

Lord  H.  Tn  disguise? 

Lady  J.  Oui,  disguise  !  no  greater  caution  was  taught  neces- 
sary wid  a  servant. 

Lord  H.  {Rising.)  Perfidious  woman 

Lady  J.  What  is  de  matter,  eh,  min  dear  ? 

Lord  H.  Noting,  noting — {aside.)  did  not  think  greater  cau- 
tion was  necessary  wid  a  servant. 

Lady  J.  Eh,  mine  dear,  if  my  spectacle  does  not  deceive  me, 
VQUS  est  pale,  you  are  pale. 

Lord  H.  Pale,  pale  !  no  I  see,  I  see.  [t*aces. 

Lady  J.  Eh,  what  do  you  see  ? 


PEESONATION.  T 

Lord  H.  I  see  mi  lor  coming  dis  way,  and  I  must  obey,  voua 
de  la  ;  out  of  the  way,  you  old  devil.  [^Exit  t. 

Lady  J.  (ImKfhiuff.)  Ha,  ba,  ba  !  my  cousin  has  forgotten  his 
French  before  the  end  of  bis  first  scene  1  These  men,  with 
what  phantoms  they  torment  themselves  !  yet  I  own  I  thought 
this  cousin  of  mine  more  wise,  than  complaisantly  to  come  and 
teach  me  bow  far  I  might  deceive  a  jealous  husband  ;  and  these 
arc  the  lords  of  the  creation  !  the  Lord  holp  us  poor  women ! 

Lord  H.  (  Without  l.,  speaking  in  his  natural  voice.)  Let  the 
rest  of  the  servants  return  to  the  inn.  {As  La  Roche.)  Oui, 
ray  lord.     (As  Lord  H.)  1  may  want  your  assistance. 

Lady  J.  'Tis  very  )'ke  you  may. 

Enter  Lorl  Henry,  elegantly  dressed^  l. 

Lord  H.  Good  woman,  do  you  belong  to  this  house  ? 

Lady  J.  Yes,  sir,  mi  ladi  bring  me  from  Paris,  just  two  year, 
three  month,  five  day. 

Lord  H.  A  truce  to  dates — I  am  Lord  Henry. 

Lady  /.Ah  my  lor!     {Curtseys  with  great  respect.) 

Lord  H.  Be  quick,  and  announce  me  to  your  lady — -is  she  in 
the  house? 

Lady  J.  Oui,  mi  lor,  aat   s  to  say,  non. 

Lord  H.  Yes — no — 

Lady  J.  Ah,  she  was  on  de  point  to  go  to  a  grand  chateau,  to 
make  a  visit — but  now  my  lor  is  arrived,  I  don't  know  how  far 
she  may — 

Lord  H.  Furies  !  without  tormenting  me  any  longer,  go  and 
see,  then. 

Lady  J.  (Going,  recollects  herself  and  retii/rns.)  Mi  lor,  I  have  do 
honor  to  be,  wid  de  greatest  respect  imaginable,  votres  tres  hum- 
ble, tres  obeissante. 

Lord  H.  Go  to  the  devil. 
.    Lady  J.  Oh,  certainly,  my  lor  (Ez-it,  r. 

Lord  H.  So,  so,  ao  !  it  was  not  thought  necessary  to  use  great- 
er precaution  with  a  servant ;  well,  we  shall  see  whether  the  mas^ 
ter  is  to  be  treated  with  the  same  audacity.  Oh !  thou  happy 
and  fei-tiie  invention  of  mine,  how  much  have  I  to  thank  thee 
for !  we  shall  see  this  cautious  rival,  who  takes  so  much  pains  to 
disguise  himself — the  rowanl  !  and  Lady  Julia  to  have  a  regard 
*br  such  a  fellow  !  hilt  niv  arrival  must  be  annouooed  by  this 


8  PERSONATION. 

time — how  she  will  tremble  in  my  presence  !  I  really  pity  her 
— but  away  with  such  weakness  from  my  breast.  Ah !  she's 
here. 

Enter  Ladt  Julia  r.,  dressed  for  an  assembly. 

Lndy  J.  Welcome,  welcome  my  dearest  Henry,  ten  thousand 
welcomes  ;  this  shocking  accident  of  yours,  La  Roche,  no  doubt, 
informed  you 

Lord  H.  {Sarcastically.')  lie  did. 

Lady  J.  Had  he  not  prevented  it,  I  should  have  flown,  to 
your  assistance  ;  why,  Henry,  you  aro  thoughtful  ? 

Lord  H.  i^Aside.)  "What  unparalleled  dissimulation ! 

Lady  J.  For  heaven's  sake,  dispel  the  cloiid  that  hangs  about 
your  brow  ;  your  presence  could  bring  nothing  but  joy  to  your 
Julia — I  have  been  too  long  a  prey  to  melancholy. 

Lord  H.  To  melancholy  ! 

Lady  J.  Yes,  shut  up  in  this  solitude — hark  !  don't  I  hear  the 
sound  of  a  carriage  1 

Lord  H.  Some  company.  . 

Lady  J.  Yes  ;  not  that  I  like  them,  neither  will  you,  but  I  ex- 
pect half  the  world  ;  there's  Lady  Rachel  Rattlecap — Sir  Fred- 
erick Pharo — the  two  Misses  Scarecrow — the  Countess  of 
Roundabout ;  and,  last  not  least  in  our  dear  love,  the  Honorable 
Edward  Eastdale. 

Lord  H.  What !  (^Strictly  observing  her.)  That  young  fop  !  the 
greatest  coxcomb  in  the  country  ? 

Lady  J.  Speak  a  little  less  severely,  sir,  of  a  person  I   esteem. 

Lord  H.  (Aside.)  That's  the  man  ! 

Lady  J.  Eastdale  has  his  merit. 

Lord  H.  Oh,  sublime  ! 

Lady  J.  And,  if  he  came  alone,  would  meet  with  a  very  dif- 
ferent reception. 

Lord  H.  No  doubt  on't. 

Lady  J.  However,  to  prove  to  you,  that  I  would  owe  ray  hap- 
piness to  you  alone,  I  will  go  and  endeavor  to  get  rid  of  these 
troublesome  intruders  ;  in  the  meantime,  Henrj-  do  you  take  a 
turn  in  the  little  wood — you  no  doubt  remember  how  its  wind- 
ing walks  and  fragrant  shrubs  can  lull  a  lover's  anxious  mind  to 
pleasing  reverie  ;  go — go — go — to  the  little  wood — to  the  lit- 
tle wood.  Exit,  R. 

Ziord  H.  To  tho  little  wood  !   there  to  loiter  patiently  along 


PERSONATION.  ,  ll 

the  winding  walks,  wliile  the  perfidious^ — to  the  little  wood. 
(^Imitating  her.)  Damn  the  little  wood  !  was  ever  man  so  treat- 
ed by  a  false,  deceitful  woman !  I  will  show  no  more  weakness, 
feel  no  more  regret.  What  compels  me  to  put  up  with  this  out- 
rage, and  suffer  a  trifling  coxcomb  to  rob  me  with  impunity  of 
my  earthly  happiness  1  Nothing — I'll  give  way  to  the  tran- 
sports of  rage  that  rise  within  my  breast,  revenge  myself  of  the 
ungrateful  creature,  I'll  kill  this  coxcomb  of  a  rival,  or  perish  by 
his  hand  !  Yes,  and  when  he  is  no  more,  I'll  kill  him  again. 
(^Looking  off  k.) 

Enter  Lady  Jvhix  from  the  garden,  c.  f.  disgimed  q,s  the  GquvernantCy 
she  appears  to  be  on  the  look-cut. 

Lord  H.  Well,  what's  the  matter  1 

Lady  J.  Nothing,  nothing. 

Lord  H.  What  are  you  doing  there  ?  are  you  set  spy  upon  me  ? 

Lady  J.  Mi  lor  ! 

Lord  H.  Do  you  come  to  see  whether  I  am  in  the  little  wood  ? 

Lady  J.  Bah,  bah,  little  wood. 

Lord  H.  Nay,  no  affection,  La  Roche  has  told  me  all. 

Lady  J,  Monsieur  La  Roche  ? 

Lord  H.  Yes,  yes,  I  know  the  projects  of  Lady  Julia — La 
Roche  has  told  me — and  here,  take  this.(Gti;es  a  purse)  I'll  make 
it  worth  your  while  to  add  to  his  intelligence  ;  tell  all  you  know, 
and  first  what  carriage  was  that  ?-!-who  were  those  visitors  ? 

Lady  J.  Those  visiteurs  ? 

Loi-d  H.  Ay,  this  moment  tell  me — r 

Lady  J.  Those  visiteurs,  as  you  call  dem,  are ^— i 

Lord  H.  Who,  what  are  they  ? 

Lady  J.  They  are  but  only  one 

Lord  H.  But  one  ? 

Lady  J.  One  single  gentleman  is  all  dat  has  enter  de  door  dis 
day. 

Lord  H.  And  he,  no  doubt,  is  a  lover  ? 

Lady  J.  Ah,  he  call  himself  so. 

Lord  H.  Damnation !  and  this  lover,  no  doubt,  is  disguised  ? 

Lady  J.  Non,  mi  lor,  your  arrival  make  a  great  change,  and  he 
is  dress — parbleu  !  he  is  dress  like  you. 

Lord  H.  I  understand — thrown  off  all  constraint.  Well— 
what  have  they  done  with  him — whore  is  he,  I  say  1 

Lady  J.  At  dis  moment  ?  at  dis  moment  he  is  wid  mi  ladi. 

Lord  H.  With  her  ladyship  !  alone  ? 


10  PERSONATION, 

Lady  J.  Quite  alone,  quite  alone. 

Lord  H.  Furies  !  what,  you  saw  her  with  bim  ? 

Lady  J.  As  plain  as  I  see  minself  wid  you. 

Lord  H.  Indeed  !  and  did  vou  see  nothing  else  1 

Lady  J.  Oh,  to  be  sure. 

Lord  H.  (Raisinff  his  voice  violently.)  What? 

Lady  J.  He  was  in  a  grande  rage. 

Lord  H.  In  a  rage — and  wherefore  ? 

Lady  J.  Because  he  had  taken  it  into  his  head,  dat  he  had 
got  a  rival. 

Lord  H.  He  has — he  hu6 — a  dangerous  rival,  and  he  shall  soon 
feel  the  whole  weight  of  my  resentment. 

Lady  /.  Et  no  poor  creature,  let  him  alone,  let  him  alone ;  foi 
as  I  could  see,  he  want  it  here.  {Pointing  to  her  head. 

Lord  H.  He's  a  fool. 

Lady  J.  Your  lordship  knows  him,  I  perceive  dat. 

Lord  H.  And  so  her  ladyship 

Lady  J.  She  seems  to  be  making  a  jest  of  him. 

Lord  H.  Poor  deluded  wretch. 

Lady  J.  At  length  fearful  of  a  discovery,  she  became  very 
anxious  to  put  an  end  to  de  interview,  and  as  it  is  growing  dark, 
dey  have  agreed  to  meet  again  in  de  little  wood,  in  order  I  sup- 
pose  

Lord  H.  {Furiously)  To  do  what  1 

Lady  J.  Bah — it  is  impossible  to  talk  to  such  a  man  as  dat ! 

Lord  H.  That  a  fool — a  fop — a  coxcomb,    should  be   able   to 

make  such  rapid  progress  in  her  heart  as 

Lady  J.  ( Taking  the  candle)  I  can  convince  you  of  it. 

Lord  H.  Be  it  so —  I  take  you  at  your  word. 

[Goes  hastily  and  grasps  her  hand. 

Lady  J.  Et  non,  mi  lor,  you  are  in  too  great  a  passion.  {He 
shakes  her  hazid,  and  sJie  drops  the  candle — stage  dark)  Dare  now, 
you  are  more  in  de  dark  dan  ever — stay  quiet,  I  will  get  ? 
candle — mais,  si  vous  ceri,  et  tempeli — ah,  moi  foi,  c'est  impos- 
sible !  [Preteiids  to  go  out. 

Lord  H.  How  is  it  possible  to  have  the  least  command  of  my 
self  in  this  house  ?  hush,  I  hear  a  footstep,  I  can  see    nothing — 
unlucky  darkness — however,  it  conceals  me — let  me  be  all    at- 
tention. 

Lady  J.  {Aside.)  Now  to  speak  in  my  own  person.  {Aloud) 
Yes,  all  things  considered,  'twill  be  the  wisest  plan ;  and  every 
reasonable  being  will  readily  excuse  me. 


PERSONATION.  11 

Lord  H.  'Tie  Lady  Julia,  and  alone. 

Ladi/  J.  My  lot  with  Lord  Henery  would  have  been  too  de- 
plorable ;  he  is  jealous — imperious — proud  of  his  supposed 
superiority — Eastdale  promises  me  a  happier  destiny. 

Lord  H.  (  Unable  to  contain  himself  any  longer.)  Ah  ! 

Lady  J.  Who  goes  there  1  Eastdale — Eastdale — dear  Eastdale, 
is  it  you  ? 

Lord  H.  (Aside.)  Let  me  take  advantage  of  her  error.  (Jo 
Lady  Julia.)     Yes,  'tis  I. 

Lady  J.  You  have  merited  my  fullest  confidence,  and  I  am 
your's.  Yet  I  think  it  necessary  to  inform  you,  that  till  this 
day  I  loved  this  cousin,  to  whom  I  was  going  to  be  united. 

Lord  H.  (Greatly  agitated.)  Lady  Julia  ! 

Lady  J.  Experience  has  shown  me  my  danger,  *.aught  me  to 
appreciate  your  gentle  qualities,  and  you  receivt,  since  such 
you  think  it,  the  prize  predestined  to  a  rival.  The  only  ques- 
tion now  is,  how  best  to  dispose  of  Lord  Henry. 

Lord  H.  How  best  to  dispose  of  Lord  Henry. 

Lady  J.  Yes,  I  have  thought  it  the  wisest  way — the  most  de- 
corous— to  present  him  to  you  as  my  husband.  I  have  there- 
fore had  this  marriage  article  drawn  up.  Go — there  are  lights 
in  the  Pavilion — sign  the  paper,  and  return  with  a  candle. 
(Lord  Henry  sighs.)    Why  do  jon  sigh? 

Lord  H.  Poor  Henry ! 

Lady  J.  Poor  fellow  ! — But  we  don't  think  of  him  now. 

Lord  H.  (Aside — taking  the  jmrchment  from  her.)  What  have  I 
lost?  wantonly  lost!  If  she  knew  my  feelings  at  this  moment, 
she  might  still  perhaps — I'll  sign,  however,  and  she  shall  see  I 
have  too  much  honor  to  take  advantage  of  the  error  which  she 
herself  is  in.  \^Goes  out  upon  the  terrace,  c.  f. 

Lady  J.  So  now  we  draw  to  a  conclusion.  Oh,  my  dear 
cousin,  I'll  teach  you  to  plot !  Plot,  indeed  !  as  if  we  women 
were  not  always  better  at  that  sport.  (Looking  through  the  fold- 
ing doors,  c.  F.)  By  all  my  hopeS;  he  signs,  and  without  exam- 
ming  the  contents  !    Excellent ! 

Enter  Lord  Henry,  with  a  candle  and  the  parchment — He  throws 
the  paper  on  the  ground,  and  sits  down  in  great  agitation. 

Lord  H.  There — there's  the  instrument. 

Lady  J.  Ah  !  ma  felicite  est  complete — e?t  complete. 

Lord  H.  What  voice  do  I  hear  ? 

Lady  J.  That  of  your  wife,  min  d«ar.  Come,  dear,  come  to 
these  spotless  arms. 


'12  PERSONATION. 

Lord  II.  Thou  infernal  old  hag  !  return  that  fatal  instrument 
immediately,  or —  [^Attempting  to  snatch  it. 

Lady  J.  Et  non,  non,  non  !  If  your  passion  will  not  let  me 
see'  what  one  is  worth — {Coughs  violently) — it  is  only  a  little 
cough  which  takes  me  in  de  winter. 

Lord  H.  I  wish  to  the  Lord  it  had  taken  you  off.  I  am  a 
dead  man.  [Throwing  himself  into  a  chair  with  his  head  upon  tlie 
table. 

Lady  J.  lie  is  a  dead  man  !  I  have  not  seen  many  such  dead 
man  as  dat.  Ah  !  let  me  tell  you,  Sir,  for  all  de  passion  you 
are  in,  I  have  got  some  good  blood  in  my  vein. 

Lord  H.  Damn  your  blood  ! 

Lady  J.  And  dere  was  a  Miladi  in  min  family,  before  you 
make  me  one.  And  when  I  take  off  dis  wire-drawn  cap,  which 
conceals  tresses,  in  which,  spite  of  deir  silver  hue,  many  an  in- 
cautious swain  has  been  caught,  dat  hover  too  near  dem — when 
I  take  off  dese  spectacles,  which  intercept  oder  beams  dan  dose 
of  de  sun — when  I  pull  off  dese  gloves,  which  cover  a  hand  dat 
might  have  blessed  even  a  philosopher — when  I  take  off  dese 
ruffles  of  two  grandmothers  and  a  maiden  aunt — 

Lord  H.  (Aside.)  What  the  devil !  is  she  undressing  herself? 

Lady  J.  When  I  untie  dis  ponderous  apron,  which  would 
transform  a  fairy  into  a  duenna — (Speaking  in  her  own  voice  and 
accent,) — when  I  draw  off  this  cloak  from  a  bosom  which  con- 
ceals a  heart,  the  truth  of  which  a  faithless  cousin  ought  never 
to  be  doubted — then,  perhaps,  he  would  as  readily  take  Madame 
la  Gouvernante  to  wife,  as  Lady  Julia  herself. 

Lord  H.  (Falling  at  her  feet.)  Lady  Julia  ! 

Lady  J.  Your  faithful  Julia  ! 

Lord  H.  Is  it  possible  ?    Am  I  awake  ? 

Lady  J.  Most  truly  so,  and  never  to  dream  of  jealousy  again 
I  hope. 

Lord  H.  And — well,  well !  when  I  was  disguised  as  La  Roche 
who  would  have  thought 

Laxly  J.  '  By  the  Lord,  I  knew  you,  Hal !'  and  I  have  my  un- 
cle's letters  to  prove  it. 

Lord  H.  My  angel !  if  ever  again  I — Dear  me  !  I  was  in  a 
devil  of  a  fright.     I  began  to  think  I  was  fairly  taken  ia. 

Lady  J.  So  you  were,  and  so  shall  I  be,  too. 

Unless  our  frolic  be  approved  by  you.      [2b  audience, 

THE    END. 


THE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

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